AC-2023-LON-001921 - [2025] EWHC 1416 (Admin)

On 6 May 2025 the Respondent filed further information dated 24 April 2025, from the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Paris, duly translated for this Court. That document in turn referred to the further information from the French Ministry of Justice dated 28 March 2023. That March 2023 document had been filed and discussed in Doga (see Doga §16). It had already been served in this case on 1 April 2025. But it was requested by the Appellant’s representatives and provided again on 7 May 2025. The Respondent’s brief email submission was that the April 2025 further information was “clear” and that it “undermines” Mme D’Harcourt’s legal opinion. The April 2025 further information explained the Respondent’s position, that Mme D’Harcourt’s legal opinion “seems to us to have to be rejected”, and that the Appellant’s extradition “seems to us … to be necessary”. The April 2025 further information recognised that its reasoning was “set[] out in even greater detail” in the March 2023 document from the French Ministry of Justice. The Respondent made clear that it was not asking for any further oral hearing. The Appellant’s lawyers filed written submissions in reply on 19 May 2025. They did not seek a further oral hearing either. In circumstances where both parties were content that I should proceed to decide the case without any further hearing, that is what I have decided to do. I agree with them that no further hearing was necessary. Each party’s position is very clear and I am grateful for the assistance they have provided.